Netanyahu Trial: Host Predicts Acquittal If PM Loses Election

Yinon Magal, a host on 103fm, stated on Tuesday that if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were to lose an election and step down, he would "unequivocally be acquitted" and "protected by justice," asserting "there is no bribery." Magal's comments came during the second day of testimony from former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in Netanyahu's trial.

During the proceedings, lawyer Hadad presented protocols from two meetings where Mandelblit authorized investigations into the Elovitch couple for suspected bribery of the Prime Minister, and later approved the investigation of Netanyahu himself under caution. Hadad argued this was the official approval for the Prime Minister's investigation. However, Mandelblit clarified that prior review had occurred regarding Netanyahu, and materials had already been presented on the matter. He emphasized the importance of formulating the caution for Netanyahu.

When questioned by Hadad about whether the caution included suspicion of bribery, Mandelblit recalled a more ambiguous phrasing of "offenses of moral turpitude." Hadad remarked that caution regarding bribery in Case 4000, which he claimed later collapsed, was appropriate. Mandelblit corrected him, stating, "You said it collapsed."

Further exchanges occurred between prosecutor Tirosh and Hadad regarding the bribery clause, with Mandelblit interjecting that Hadad's statements were "comments, not questions." Hadad reacted angrily, questioning Mandelblit's approval process for the investigation. The former Attorney General responded that he accepted the criticism, acknowledging that "perhaps more should have been revealed," but reiterated that he remembered approving the investigation of the Prime Minister under caution.